Moscow attack: video captures gunmen storming concert hall and shooting dozens dead | BBC News

BBC News

22 Mar 202410:00

Summary

TLDRAt least 40 people were killed and over 100 injured in a terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, where a heavily armed gunman opened fire in a packed theater. The assailants, who set the hall on fire, are believed to have escaped. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, which has shocked Russia. The US had prior intelligence suggesting an imminent attack and had warned its citizens to avoid large gatherings in Moscow. Questions are raised about security lapses and the potential for the incident to escalate the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Takeaways

🔥 A heavily armed gunman attacked a packed theater near Moscow, resulting in at least 40 deaths and over 100 injuries.
💥 The attacker targeted the Crocus City Hall, which caught fire after explosives were detonated during the incident.
🚨 The event was supposed to be a rock concert, but turned into a scene of chaos and violence with indiscriminate shooting.
🏃🏻‍♂️ Panic ensued as crowds tried to escape the auditorium amidst the gunfire and flames.
🚒 Emergency services and Russian Special Forces responded to the scene, but some attackers reportedly managed to escape.
🌎 The US Embassy had previously issued a warning about extremists planning to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts.
🕯️ The mayor of Moscow described the incident as a 'terrible tragedy', and the Russian Foreign Ministry labeled it a 'bloody terrorist attack'.
🥊 Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, though there has been no official confirmation from Russian authorities.
🤝 The US shared intelligence with Russia about a possible ISIS attack in Moscow, which was publicly dismissed by Russia as propaganda.
🇺🇦 Ukraine quickly denied any involvement in the attack and accused Russia of staging the incident to bolster support for its war efforts.

Q & A

What is the reported death toll and number of injuries from the attack at the concert hall near Moscow?
-At least 40 people are reported dead and over a 100 injured.
Where did the attack take place?
-The attack occurred at the Crocus City Hall, which includes a concert hall, near Moscow.
What happened during the attack according to the report?
-A heavily armed gunman burst into a packed theater and opened fire, followed by the detonation of explosives, causing the hall to catch fire and resulting in panic and chaos among the crowd.
What was the initial event scheduled at the venue?
-A rock concert was supposed to take place at the venue.
How did the attackers enter and move through the venue?
-The attackers stormed the venue, shooting their way through the building and into the auditorium, firing indiscriminately at people.
What was the US Embassy's warning about two weeks prior to the attack?
-The US Embassy issued a warning that extremists planned to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts, within 48 hours.
Has there been any claim of responsibility for the attack?
-Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack.
What was the reaction of the Ukrainian government to the attack?
-The Ukrainian government categorically denied any involvement in the attack and accused Russia of staging the incident to bolster support for its war and mobilization.
What concerns were raised about the Russian authorities' response to the US warning?
-There are concerns that the Russian authorities may have dismissed the US warning as propaganda and did not take it seriously, which could raise questions about what they knew and how they responded to the threat.
What is the significance of the US intelligence regarding this attack?
-The US intelligence suggested that ISIS wanted to strike in Moscow, and this information was shared with Russian authorities under the 'duty to warn' protocol. The fact that the Russians publicly dismissed the warning could indicate a failure to act on the intelligence provided.
What are the potential implications of this attack for Russia and Ukraine?
-The attack could lead to an escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine, with fears of more devastating attacks. The Ukrainian government's denial of involvement and accusation of Russia staging the attack for political purposes adds to the complexity of the situation.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Attack on Moscow Concert Hall

A devastating attack occurred at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, where a heavily armed gunman opened fire during a rock concert, resulting in at least 40 deaths and over 100 injuries. Explosives detonated, setting part of the venue ablaze. Panic ensued as attendees tried to escape, with some being led to locked exits before finding refuge in the basement. The Russian authorities are actively searching for the attackers, who may have fled in a white car. This incident was preceded by a US Embassy warning of potential attacks on large gatherings in Moscow. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, adding to the shock and complexity of the situation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been briefed, and security has been increased across the capital.

05:01

🌐 International Reactions and Analysis

Following the Moscow concert hall attack, the US stated it had intelligence linking Islamic State to the incident, which had been shared with Russian authorities. Ukrainian officials were quick to deny any involvement, emphasizing their focus on the battlefield rather than civilian targets. Ukrainian Military Intelligence suggested Russia might have staged the attack to rally support for its war efforts, though this is unverified. Security experts speculate the attack's style aligns with Islamic State's methods, recalling similar incidents in the past. There's scrutiny over Russia's response to prior warnings from the US, especially since the alert was dismissed as propaganda. The situation raises questions about potential prevention and the seriousness with which warnings were taken.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Crocus City Hall

Crocus City Hall is mentioned as the location of a deadly attack in the script. It is a prominent concert venue near Moscow, Russia, where a heavily armed gunman opened fire during a rock concert. The reference to Crocus City Hall situates the incident geographically and highlights the severity of the attack, given the venue's size and its significance as a cultural hub. This setting is crucial for understanding the scale and impact of the tragedy.

💡terrorist attack

A terrorist attack refers to a violent act intended to create fear (terror), perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal, often targeting civilians. In the script, the incident at Crocus City Hall is described as a 'bloody terrorist attack,' indicating a deliberate, violent assault on civilians with the aim of causing mass casualties and spreading terror, attributed to the Islamic State according to later claims in the narrative.

💡Islamic State

Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, is a jihadist militant group that claimed responsibility for the attack on the concert hall in the script. This group is known for carrying out brutal acts of terrorism across the globe. The claim of responsibility by Islamic State in the narrative connects the local incident in Moscow to global terrorism concerns and introduces the complexity of international terrorist networks.

💡emergency services

Emergency services refer to the public organizations that respond to urgent situations, including medical emergencies, fires, and law enforcement incidents. In the script, emergency services, police, and Russian Special Forces were mentioned as responding to the scene of the attack. Their involvement illustrates the immediate crisis response and the efforts to manage the situation and assist victims.

💡panic

Panic is a sudden, overwhelming fear that can cause mass hysteria and irrational behavior. In the context of the script, panic ensued as crowds fled from the auditorium after the attack began, highlighting the chaos and fear experienced by the concertgoers. The term captures the human response to the sudden and life-threatening nature of the attack.

💡intelligence

Intelligence, in the context of national security and law enforcement, refers to information gathered to predict, prevent, or respond to criminal and terrorist activities. The script mentions that U.S. officials had intelligence indicating a potential attack by extremists in Moscow, which underscores the role of intelligence in threat assessment and the challenges in preempting such attacks.

💡Ukraine

Ukraine is mentioned in the narrative as having been quick to deny any involvement in the Moscow attack. The mention of Ukraine relates to the geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, highlighting how national conflicts can intersect with and influence perceptions of terrorist incidents. Ukrainian authorities' denial and the subsequent discussion reflect the complex international relations and blame dynamics in the aftermath of the attack.

💡warning

A warning, in this context, refers to an alert issued by a government or organization about a potential threat or danger. The script notes that the U.S. Embassy had issued a warning about extremists planning to target large gatherings in Moscow, which is significant for understanding the prelude to the attack and the potential for preventive action or the lack thereof.

💡security correspondent

A security correspondent is a journalist or reporter specializing in security, defense, and terrorism-related news. In the script, Gordon Carrera, identified as a security correspondent, provides expert analysis on the attack's implications and the potential perpetrators, offering viewers an in-depth understanding of the security context and the broader implications of the incident.

💡propaganda

Propaganda refers to information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view. In the script, Russian authorities dismissed the U.S. warning about a potential attack as 'propaganda,' indicating a dismissive or skeptical stance toward the intelligence provided and reflecting the contentious nature of international communications and relations concerning security threats.

Highlights

At least 40 people are dead and over a 100 injured after a heavily armed gunman attacked a packed theater near Moscow.

The incident occurred at the Crocus City Hall, which caught fire after explosives were detonated.

The venue was supposed to host a rock concert, but instead, it was stormed by attackers firing indiscriminately.

The mayor of Moscow described the event as a terrible tragedy.

The Russian foreign Ministry labeled the attack as a bloody terrorist act.

Witnesses reported that the attackers locked an exit, leading to panic as crowds tried to flee the auditorium.

Russian Special Forces and police rushed to the scene, with some attackers reportedly escaping.

The US Embassy had previously issued a warning about extremists planning to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, with the scale of destruction and loss of life becoming clearer.

The Russian authorities have not yet commented on the ISIS claim.

Security has been stepped up at key installations in the Russian capital, including airports and railway stations.

Questions are being raised about how armed men could enter a prominent concert venue and carry out such a bloody attack.

US officials believe they have intelligence confirming ISIS responsibility for the attack.

The US had shared intelligence with Russian authorities warning of a possible ISIS strike in Moscow.

Ukraine has denied any involvement in the attack, with officials stating they had nothing to do with it.

Ukrainian Military Intelligence accused Russia of staging the attack to bolster support for its war and mobilization.

The attack is being called the worst terror attack in Russia for many years.

The US had monitoring reports that extremists were preparing to strike imminently, which was related to the intelligence about the possible ISIS attack in Moscow.

The public dismissal of the US warning by Russia could raise questions about what they knew and how seriously they took the threat.

The situation raises concerns about the potential for escalation in Russia's war on Ukraine following the attack.